Responding to the news that activist Nguyen Trung Truc has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after being found guilty of “carrying out activities to overthrow the people’s administration” by a court in Dong Hoi City, Minar Pimple, Amnesty International’s Senior Director of Global Operations said: “Yet again, a Vietnamese court has decided to punish …
Author Archives: Amnesty International
Bangladesh: Denial of bail to Shahidul Alam a cruel affront to justice
Responding to the denial of bail to Shahidul Alam, a celebrated Bangladeshi photographer and Amnesty International prisoner of conscience, the organisation’s South Asia Campaigner, Saad Hammadi, said: “The decision to deny Shahidul Alam bail is a cruel affront to justice. He should never have been detained in the first place, since all he did was …
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Australia / United Nations: International NGO coalition calls for justice for Myanmar’s Rohingya people
The Australian Government should immediately end military ties with Myanmar, Australia’s foremost international human rights and development organisations jointly said today. They called on the Australian government to impose targeted sanctions on military commanders responsible for atrocities committed against ethnic Rohingya, and to press for an international mechanism to assist future prosecutions. As Australia commences …
Australia: Aboriginal boys’ deaths could have been prevented
Amnesty International has today expressed sincere condolences to the families of five teenage boys who were chased by police in Perth overnight, tragically ending in the passing of two Aboriginal boys who drowned in the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River). Police are still searching for a third boy. Alison Gibbins, Amnesty International Australia Deputy National Director, …
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Amnesty stands with survivors of sexual orientation change efforts
Amnesty International stands with survivors of gay conversion therapy and sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE) to call for its abolition in every state and territory, for awareness around the practice, and for better support for survivors. The SOCE Survivors Statement has been endorsed by Amnesty International Australia, survivors of SOCE, community leaders, community organisations, health …
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Viet Nam: Amnesty International senior official refused entry amid growing intolerance of freedom of expression
Amnesty International’s Senior Director of Global Operations, Minar Pimple, has been refused an entry visa to speak at this week’s World Economic Forum on ASEAN event in Hanoi, further evidence of the Vietnamese government’s ongoing crackdown against freedom of expression. Minar Pimple, who is part of Amnesty International’s senior leadership team, was due to speak …
Egypt: 75 death sentences and heavy prison terms handed down in disgraceful mass trial
Amnesty International has condemned as “disgraceful” a series of sentences handed down in Egypt today in a mass trial related to participation in the Rabaa sit-in in Cairo during August 2013. Earlier this morning, Cairo Criminal Court’s handed down 75 death sentences, 47 life sentences and heavy prison sentences for another 612 people. Among those …
Myanmar: I.C.C. decision opens a clear avenue for justice for the Rohingya
Following the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s ruling on Thursday that it has jurisdiction over Myanmar’s deportation of the Rohingya population to Bangladesh, a crime against humanity, Biraj Patnaik, Amnesty International’s South Asia Director, said: “During the Myanmar military’s horrifying campaign of ethnic cleansing, more than 725,000 Rohingya women, men and children were deported to Bangladesh. …
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INDIA: Decriminalisation of consensual same-sex relations marks new era for LGBTI rights
The landmark ruling by India’s Supreme Court decriminalizing consensual same-sex relations is a historic step, which sends a message of hope not only to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people, but to everyone fighting for justice and equality, Amnesty International India said today. “The judgment closes the door on a dark chapter of …
Pacific Islands Forum: Australia must tackle refugee crisis in Nauru as regional summit closes
The Australian government must urgently evacuate the 107 refugee children and their families trapped in appalling conditions in Nauru, or else accept New Zealand’s offer to provide safe haven, said Amnesty International, as the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) comes to a close in Nauru today. The four-day meeting, which brought together leaders from across the …